Drawing upon her rich experience of life, Prudence (Prudie to her friends) responds to questions about manners, personal relations, politics, and other subjects. Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. Queries should not exceed 200 words in length. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be signed, preferably including your location.
Dear Prudie,
I am simply sick at heart about the $1 billion payload that literally went up in smoke. What's with our space program people, anyway? Are they inept, can these things not be helped, or have we no business trying this stuff in the first place?
--Rocket Doubter in Arizona
Dear Rock,
Like you, Prudie was appalled at the literal burning up of $1 billion. Just think what that money could have accomplished for programs "down here." Prudie does not know the right answer to your question, but she can't help but be reminded of Lady Violet Bonham-Carter's remark: "Outer space is no place for a person of breeding."
--Prudie, groundedly
Dear Prudie,
A close friend is a plastic surgeon who did some minor (OK, semi-major) facial work on me in the past. The results were fine, but now I want to go to a far more famous--far more expensive--plastic surgeon for major work: a facelift.
I know my plastic surgeon friend is going to notice the changes when we get together and will likely feel hurt that I chose a competitor. How can I have my new face and my old friend at the same time?
